The 37th Toronto Intl. Film Festival kicked off with a major dose of Hollywood-style hyperbole — twinned with the world premiere of “Looper.”

“This is the largest and most succesful public film festival in the world,” declared James Moore, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages in a pre-screening speech at the Roy Thomson Hall – site for 20 galas over the next 10 days including “Argo,” “Hyde Park on Hudson,” “The Company You Keep,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “What Maisie Knew” and “Song for Marion,” the closing night pic.

Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s artistic director, told the audience that “Looper” is the first sci-fi title to lead off the festival and the fest’s first U.S.-China co-production.

“When I came out of the screening my heart was racing,” he added. “It’s loud, it’s smart, it’s fast, it’s moving.”